U-M Spring Game Primer!

Michigan’s first Spring Game under head coach Jim Harbaugh is only five days away and there is a lot to learn about what Team 136 is going to look like on the field this year. To help sort out two collections of Wolverines, Harbaugh held a Spring Game Draft, complete with a dress code and proper draft day accommodations.

Offensive coordinator Tim Drevno captained Team Blue, while defensive coordinator D.J. Durkin manned the Maize squad. Although final results of Michigan’s first Spring Game Draft have not been released publically yet, several players have gone to Twitter regarding their draft day experience. Here is what I could find so far:

One part of Jim Harbaugh’s program that is becoming clearer and clearer by the day is how much value is being placed upon true competition. Since it is the spring, each workout is being treated an opportunity to work in a new, different and innovative way to improve on the football field. This has resulted in a bevy of position changes

Speedster Dennis Norfleet has primarily seen the field as a kick and punt returner in addition to some work in the passing game. Norfleet has worked out at defensive back for at least one full practice and is being primed to know the responsibilities of nickelback.

After playing quarterback, running back and linebacker in high school, Chase Winovich is trying his hand at the offensive side of the ball once again. Winovich has worked at tight end a lot this spring. In two tight end sets, Winovich has seen a lot of work with the first unit so far.

After Jack Miller left the program due to personal reasons, Michigan had a need to fill at center. As such, Mason Cole moved over to the middle of the OL and worked out for several days at center. He appears to be running second behind Glasgow at the moment, with Kugler making a charge for the backup role.

Ross Douglass, who came into the Michigan program as a defensive back and return man, moved to running back last year. Douglass is now back in the defensive backfield learning under Jackson and Zordich. Douglass will be out for the rest of spring with a high ankle sprain.

Running back Ty Isaac, who has received quite a bit of praise when healthy this spring, is a free agent for the Spring Game and will not participate. He has been sidelined with a couple injuries so far this spring.

As with any Spring Game, Michigan is using this opportunity to host a bevy of highly touted prospects. The Wolverines are coming off of a weekend in which they had several big time prospects form New Jersey come check out the U-M program. 2016 five-star Paramus Catholic defensive tackle Rashan Gary headlined a group that included: four-star wideout Ahmir Mitchell, four-star defensive end Ron Johnson, four-star wide receiver Brad Hawkins and defensive tackle Corey Bolds.

Michigan recruiting coordinator Chris Partridge has a strong standing in the state of New Jersey and it shows in the impressive visitor list that he was able to pull in. Early returns have been good from this group. Bolds received an offer on the trip and Gary told the Michigan staff they would be in his recruitment until the very end, which will likely be National Signing Day.

This weekend, the Maize and Blue will see several highly rated prospects in Ann Arbor to check out the 2015 Michigan football squad. Here are some of the confirmed visitors: